Removal of casings from meat products



March 1949. R. H. DEITRICKSON 2,463,157

I REMOVAL OF CASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS Filed Jan. 31, 1945 i 10Sheets-Sheet 1 7 INVENTOR.

190? A! DehM'c/rs 0/7 ATTORNEYS March 1, 1949.

R. H. DEITRICKSON REMOVAL OF CASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS 10 Sheets-Sheet2 w am mm m. Q on a I l l l I INVENTOR. Pay H [19/7/7'0/(5 an Filed Jan.31, 1945 QH w ATTORNEYS March 1, 1949. R. H.DE|TRICK$ON 5 REMOVAL OFCASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS Filed Jan. 31, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 uvmvron23g H De/fr/c/rsah ATTORNEYS Mal-ch 1, 1949. DEITRICKSQN 2,463,157

v REMOVAL OF CASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS Filed Jan. 31, 1945 10Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Pay H Define/(son ATTORNEYS arch R, 194%., R.H. DEITRBCKSON 2463,15?

REMOVAL OF CASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS Filed Jan. 31, 1945 10Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. J

r, I65 Us INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS March 1, 194%., DEITRjCKSON 2,463,157

' I REMOVAL 0F CASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS Filed. Jan, 31, 1945 10Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEYS Mag-flu 1, 1949, R H. UEITRICKSON REMOVAL OFCASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 31, 1945 I I Pay7 A! pg/b r /i on ATTORNEYS March 1, 1949. R. HVDEITRICKSON REMOVAL OFCASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS 1O Sheets-SheetB Filed Jan 31, 1945IVNVENTORI. Pay H fle/br/b/rsan ATTORNEYS arch 11, 3949.

R. H. IDEIIBICKSON REMOVAL OF CASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS 1o Sheets-Sheet10 Filed Jan. 31, 1945 m m m H 2% 2 w Patented Mar. 1, 1949 PATENToFFicE REMOVAL OF CASINGS FROM MEAT PRODUCTS Roy H. Deltrlckson, Toledo,Ohio, asslgnor of one-.

half to J. McLeod Little, Toledo, Ohio 1 Application January 31, 1945,Serial No. 575,484

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to meat packing equipment and in particular to amethod and machine for removing the cellophane casings used in themanufacture of wieners and similar products.

Numerous attempts have been made to devise a method adaptable to machineoperation which would allow satisfactory removal of the cellophanecasing without weakening or disintegrating the material of the Wieneritself. It has been proposed to inject air or other gas under pressureinto the Wiener to blow the casing off but this process tends todisintegrate the Wiener itself. Other methods have also been tried buthave not proven satisfactory. As a result the. meatpackers have resortedto hand stripping, usually employing girls to do the work. Handstripping is a slow laborious operation, the average output of eachoperator being approximately twelve pounds per hour.

The principal object of this invention is to develop a method ofremoving cellophane casings or casings of other material from wienersand like products withoutotherwisedamagin the product.

Another object is to provide a method of removing cellophane casings orcasings of other material from wieners and like products withoutotherwise damaging the product, which is susceptible to machineoperation.

Another object is to provide a guarded knife assembly which by cuttingpart way through a cellophane casing materially facilitates the removalof the casing.

A still further obiect of the invention is to provide suction rolls'forapplying vacuum to the outside of a casing to strip it from a wiener orother product. 1

One characteristic of cellophane is its unusual strength until it isscratched or nicked and its low resistance to tearing once a tearis-started. This characteristic of cellophane and the inevitablepresence of grease on the casings are the chief reasons for the failureof prior stripping machines.

According to the present invention these obstacles may be overcome byfirst scoring the cellophane to produce a weakened or potential tearingline and subsequently applying a vacuum or suction to the cellophanecasing adjacent the potential tearing line to tear the cellophane alongthe line and to strip it from the wiener. In an actual machine employingthe method of the invention a chain of wieners are fed in at one end ofthe machine. a cut-off knife separates them, a plurality of rotaryscoring knives produce longitudinal cuts in the casing and, finally, aset of suction rolls, by applying suction to the areas between the cuts,strips the casing from thewieners. The scoring knives are constructedwith guards so that they may be adjusted to out nearly, but notentirely, through the cellophane thus weakening the cellophane withoutmarking the Wiener. After the scoring, suction is appliedto the outsidesurface of the cellophane thus removing it without otherwise affectingthe wiener.

The method of skinning the wieners and a machine for performing theoperations are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure I is an elementary schematic diagram illustrating the varioussteps in the skinning operation.

Figure II is a front elevation of the complete machine.

Figure III is a plan view of the machine.

Figure IV is a plan view, with parts broken .away, as seen from the lineIV-IV of Figure II, showing the incoming feeder and some of themechanism for separating the wieners from the chain of wieners. v a 2Figure V is'a vertical section taken along the line V-V of Figure IVshowing the incoming feeder and the cut-off knife.

Figure VI is a vertical section taken along the line VI-VI of Figure V.

Figure VII is a vertical fragmentary section taken along the lineVII-VII of Figure IV.

Figure VIII is a vertical section'taken along the line VIIIVIII ofFigure IV.

Figure IX is a vertical section taken substantially along the line IXIXof FigureIV.

Figure x is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of the drivingmechanism for the suction rolls.

Figure XI is a fragmentaryplan view of the scoring knives.

Figure XII is a vertical section showing the mounting and controllingmechanism of one of a the scoring knives as seen from the line XII-XIIof Figure XI.

Figure XIII is a fragmentary section 7 taken along the line XIII-XIII ofFigure XI.

Figure XIV is a fragmentary vertical view of the switch operatingmechanism taken substantially along the line XIV-XIV of Figure XII.

Figure XV'is a plan view, partly in section, of the mechanism used torotate the wieners so as to space the scoring cuts uniformly about itsperiphery. a

Figure XVI is a fragmentary section taken 55 along the line XVI-XVI ofFigure XV.

Figure XVII is a fragmentary vertical. section, as seen from the lineXVII-XVII of Figure XV, showing the operating mechanism for rotating thewieners.

Figure XVIII is a fragmentary plan view of the' wiener rotatingmechanism as seen from the line XVIII-XVIII of Figure XVII.

Figure XIX is a fragmentary detail showing the adjustment of theincoming end of the second conveyor.

' Figure xx is a fragmentary detail of the disthe electrical control ofthe skinning mechanlsm.

These specific figures and the accompanying description are intendedmerely to illustrate the principle of the invention and a mechanismwherely it may be utilized.

The new process of removing the casing from a wiener is schematicallyillustrated in Figure I. A chainof wieners is fed into the machine on aconveyor 2. A pivoted catch or fork 3 carried on a horizontal axis isdesigned to ride along on the top of a wiener and to drop into the spacebetween the individual wieners of the.

chain. When it drops into such a space it energizes a solenoid whichallows a rotating cutoff knife 4 to move downwardly to cut the end ofthe wiener protruding between the tines of the fork 3 much as one wouldtrim the end of a cigar. The conveyor 2 is stopped each time the fork 3and the knife 4 operate so as not to Jam the oncoming wieners. A secondconveyor 5, which operates continuously, takes the wieners as they areseparated by the cut-off knife 4 and passes them between scoring knivesG. The scoring knives 8 are fitted with guards, not shown in Figure I,which allow the knives to out nearly but not entirely through thecellophane casing of the wieners thus producing potential tearing linesI along their sides. After the wiener passes the scoring knives 6 itenters the space. between a-pair of turning pads 8 which rotate thewiener 90 about its longitudinal axis. It then passes between a secondpair of scoring knives 9 which produce another set of potential tearinglines spaced from those produced by the first set of scoring knives 6.After leaving the second set of scoring knives 3 the wiener is passedbetween two pairs of suction rolls l and H. The suction rolls, byapplying vacuum to the cellophane casing, tear the casing along thepotential tearing lines 1 and strip it from the wiener.

The cut produced by the cut-ofl knife 4 is of sufficient diameter withrespect to the roundness of the end of the wiener so that the suctionrolls l0 and II, which are mounted for' horizontal movementperpendicular to the travel of the wiener, may grasp the end of thecellophane casing to be sure to get all of the cellophane and not haveto tear it free starting at a point away from the end. The. tied portionand the tip of the succeeding wiener is stripped ofl with the rolls.

The complete machine for performing these functions is shown in FiguresII and III.

It comprises a cast base 12 on which all the I mechanism is mounted.The' feeding conveyor 2 is mounted on pulleys l3 and I4 while theconveyor 5 runs on pulleys l5 and IS. The conveyor pulleys l4 and I5 aredriventhrough gearing from a shaft II which in turn is belt driven froma motor or other power source by a belt l8 running over a pulley l9secured to the shaft II. To prevent the wieners from slipping on theconveyor 2 an auxiliary belt 20 is provided. The belt 20 is carried on apair of pulleys 2| journaled on the ends of arms 22 and 23 which extendlaterally from a shaft 24 journaled in bushings and 23 a secured to thebase l2. The arm 22 is keyed to the shaft 24 so as to be slidabletherealong while it is maintained in alignment with the arm 23. Acompression spring 21 circumlacently mounted on the shaft 24 between thebushing 25 and the arm 22 tends to separate the arms 22 and 23 and thusmaintains tension on the belt 20. Journaling the shaft 24 allowsvertical movement of the auxiliary conveyor 20 to accommodate various 25sizes of wieners. A pair of guides 28 are provided kept tight by anidler pulley 29 journaled on one a end of a bell crank 30 which ispivotally mounted in a bracket 3| depending from the under side of thetop of the base l2. A tension spring 32 is hooked onto the other end ofthe bell crank 30 to provide the required tension for the conveyor Thefork 3, which catches the wieners just ahead of the cut-off knife 4, issecured to the end of a shaft 33 journaled in a small housin '34 erectedon the upper surface of the. base l2 at one side of the conveyor 2. Theshaft 33 is held against endwise motion by collars 35 and 35, the latterhaving a cam surface adapted to actuate a microswitch 31 mounted withinthe housing 34. When the fork 3 drops into the space between two wienersthe cam surface of the collar 36 actuates the microswitch 31 to energizea solenoid 33 which, by attracting its armature 39, rotates a forkedlever 40 about its axle 4|. The forked upper end of the lever 40 engagesan arm 42 extending downwardly from the collar 38 which moves with thefork 3. The movement of the forked lever 40 locks the fork 3 inwiener-holding position so that the over run of the conveyor 2 may forcethe approaching wiener firmly against the work 3 so that its end willprotrude in position to be cut by the knife 4.

Simultaneously with the locking of the fork 3 current is supplied to aknife solenoid 43 which acting through its armature 44 pulls a yoke 45downward. The yoke 45 is slidably mounted on a pair of vertical rods 46which are themselves slidably mounted through bosses 4! formed under andthe yoke 45 ordinarily act through the yoke 45 and the collars su holdthe knife 4 in its upper position clear of the wieners carried on theconveyor 2. when the solenoid 48 is energized it pulls the yoke 45 downthus compressing .the

springs 46 and allowing the knife 4 to drop under the force-of gravity.The stroke of the armature 44 of the solenoid 43 is of such length thatthe collars 52 strike the top of the yoke 45 as the knife 4 completesits out through the end of a wiener. Sumcient slack is allowed in theconnection between the armature 44 and the-yoke 45 so that the springs53 can cushion and stop the drop of the knife 4 before it can strike theconveyor 2.

The motor 56 while it may be of any suitable type, is shown as ahydraulic motor of the type described and claimed in application forUnited States Letters Patent Ser. No. 558,647.

51 which thereupon acts to swing the forked lever 46 to its oppositeextreme position. The swing of the forked lever 46 disengages the fork 3from the Wiener which it is holding and by restoring the fork 3 to itsupper position opens the microswitch 31 which, being in series with themicroswitch 56, deenergizes the solenoid 51. Thereupon, a pair ofsprings 58 act to restore the forked lever 46 to its neutral position inanticipation of another cycle.

The drive for the conveyors, as was mentioned previously, is taken froma source of power through the belt 18 and pulley l8 mounted on the shaft11. The shaft I1 extends transversely of the base I 2 (see Figures IVand IX) and is journaled in bosses 58'and 66 cast integrally with theside walls of the base I 2. The shaft 11 adjacent the boss 66 isprovided with a gear 51 which meshes with a gear 62 secured to aparallel shaft 63 journaled just below the upper surface of the base I2.The pulley l5 driving the second conveyor 5 is carried on the shaft63.Another shaft 64 journaledin stands 65 erected above the base I! isprovided with a pulley 66 driving an upper conveyor belt 61 whichcooperates with the conveyor 5 in feeding the wieners past the scoringknives 6 and 8. The shaft 64 is driven from the shaft 63 by a pair ofgears 68 and 68. The conveyor 5 and the upper cooperating conveyor belt61 are thus driven continuously and at the same speed directly from thepower source.

Near its'other end the shaft l1 issplined to receive and drive a clutch16. The clutch 1.6 is actuated by a bell crank 1| pivotally mounted in abracket 12, the bell crank being powered by a clutch solenoid 13. Whenthe solenoid 13 is energized it pulls the clutch member 16 into drivingrelationship with friction material 14 secured to the adjacent flange ofa spool 15. The spool 15 is secured to one end of a-sleeve 16 which isjournaled on the shaft 11 for both rotary and axial motion. The otherflange 11 of the spool 15 is lined with brake material 18 so that whenthe solenoid 13 isde-energized to release the clutch a, compressionspring 18 circumjacently mounted on the shaft I 1 between the gear 6|and the end of the sleeve 16 may push the sleeve and the brake material18 into contact with a fixed brake plate 86 to immediately stop therotation of the sleeve 16. The pulley l4 driving the conveyor 2 isdriven from the sleeve 16 through another gear 8|, similar to the gear8|, meshing with a gear 82 mounted with the pulley 14 on a short shaft88.

The electrical control for the clutch solenoid 18 is interlocked withthe control for the knife solenoid 48 so that the conveyor 2 is stoppedduring the time that the knife 4 is severing one wiener from the next.After the wieners have been separated from each other by the cut-oilknife 4 they are picked up by the continuously operated conveyor 5 andcarriedbetween the scoring knives 8. These knives 6 are shown in detailin Figures XI, xrr and K111. Each of the scoring knives is carried inits own housing which comprises a lower member 84 whose distal end is ahorizontally disposed ring adapted to receive a circular lower isjournaled in ball bearings '81 and 88 mounted in the base 12. An upperknife guard 88 which cooperates with the lower knife guard 85 indetermining the depth of cut is adjustably mounted in an upper housingmember 86. i The member 86 is accurately maintained in position relativeto the lower member 84 by a dowel pin 8| and the small diameter upperend of the vertical shaft 86. iiardened bushings 82 and 88 set into theupper housing member 86 prevent any wear which might allow the upperhousing member 86 to be displaced from its true position. A stud 84 setinto the lower housing member 84 midway between the shaft 86 and thedowel pin 8| extends upwardly through a hole" in the upper housingmember 86 and carries a thumb nut 85 screwed onto its upper end. Thethumb nut 85 serves to clamp the housing members tightly together andnut 95 is counterbored to a diameter slightly larger than the thread anda washer 86 of subs'tantially the same diameter is secured to the upperend of the stud 84 with its upper surface substantially flush with theupper surface of the thumb nut 85 when the housing members 86 and 84 areclamped together.

a The knife guards 85 and 88 are fitted with bearing rings 81 and 88made of Bakelite or other suitable material. The lower bearing ring 81contacts the smooth lower surface of the knife 6. The upper bearing ring88 is provided with a beveled lower surface 88 which runs on the upperbeveled edge I66 of theknife 6. The upper knife guard '88 is threadedinto the upper housing a member 86 so that it may be adjusted verticallyand when adjusted may be secured in position by a locking ring MI. Theknife 6 is mounted separately from the guards and 88 and is resilientlyheld eccentric thereto. This construction is used so that by adjustingthe upper knife guard 88 in the upper housing 86 so as to change theclearance between the bearing rings 81 and 88 the protrusion of theknife and hence the depth of cut may be controlled. The lower surface of'is obtained which, withoutsacrlflcing the advantages of a finelyserrated cutting edge. does not wear or out the bearingrinzs 81 or 88.

.The knife 8 may be preferably driven by a small hydraulicmotor I02which is mounted on an arm I03 whose supporting end is iournaied on thevertical shaft 88. The arm I03 is positioned along the shaft 88 by apair of collars I04 and I05. A coil spring I08 is connected to the armI03 and the collar I04 and tends to rotate the arm I03 and the motor I02with respect to the shaft 86 and the knife guard housings 84' and so asto maintain the knife 6 in correct position with respect to the knifeguards 85 and 89. Another coil spring I01 surrounding the shaft 88 isconnected between a screw I08 tapped into the base I2 and the uppercollar I and is tensioned to rotate the entire assembly of knife andguard into contact with a wiener carried on the conveyor 5. The lowerend of each shaft 86 is provided with an arm I09 which being connectedthrough a linkage H0 and a reversing lever III toa similar arm andlinkage of the cooperating knife assembly, ensures-"that as the assemblyswings on the shaft 86 to accommodate the wieners fed through betweenthe knives, the knife assemblies are constrained to move equal distancesand to maintain their distances from the' center line of the conveyor 5equal at all times. The reversing linkage for the first pair of scoringknives 8 is not shown but is the same as that employed for the secondpair of knives 9 which is shown in Figure X.

In order to secure successful operation of the suction rolls it isdesirable that the scoring cutS produced by the knives 6 or 9 be on thehorizontal center line of the wiener. Therefore, a limited amount ofvertical adjustment of the knives is provided by supporting the lowerball bearing 88, which journals the vertical shaft 86, on a threadedplug II2 so that its height with respect to the base I2 may be adjusted.The shaft 86 slides through the upper ball bearing 81 so' that furtheradjustment is not required at that point.

Because the second set of scoring knives 9 are operated in the sameplane as the first set of knives 6, it is necessary to rotate the wienerapproximately 90 after it has passed'the first pair of scoring knives 6and before it reaches the second set 9. The mechanism for rotating thewieners is shown in Figures XV, XVII, and XVIII. Referring primarily toFigure XVII this structure comprises a pair of turning pads 8, asshownschematically in Figure 1. These turning pads or surfaces 8 are made ofresilient material and are carried on the ends of elongated internallythreaded sleeves I I3 which extend transversely into hollow cylindersII4 which are mounted parallel to and in the same horizontal plane as awiener carried between the conveyor 5 and the cooperating conveyor belt61. The sleeves II3 carrying the pads 8 are held in position by boltsII5 entering the cylinders II4 diametrically opposite the sleeves H3 andthreaded into the sleeves II3. Compressed coil springs II6circumjacently mounted on the bolts II5 between the ends of the sleevesH3 and the opposite inner wall of the cylinder II4 urge the pads 8 intoposition to contact a wiener but yet allow the pads to give or move awayin case they encounter undue resistance. The cylinders I I4 are mountedfor rotation about their longitudinal axes on trunnions II'I.

The conveyor belt 61 is normally adjusted so as to bear firmly on theupper surface of the wiener and to hold it in contact with the conveyor5. Obviously the pads 8 could not rotate the wiener while it is so held.Therefore adjacent the pads 8 the conveyor 0 and the conveyor belt 81are supported on resiliently mounted surfaces II8 and H8 carried on theends of pivoted pivotally mounted at the lower end of a bracket I30depending from the upper inner surface of the base I2.

The walking beam I29 and the cylinders II4 connected thereto areoperated by a solenoid I3I whose armature I32 is connected through alink I33 and pin I34 to a plate I35 carried on the walking beam I29. Thepin I34 which is riveted into the link I33 slides in a slot I36 cut inthe plate I35. Each end of the slot I38 is provided with a notch I3'I toreceive the pin I34 when the solenoid is operated. A pair of springs I38and I39 are connected between pins I40 and MI on the plate I35 and a pinI42 on the link I33. The geometry of these parts and the lengths of thesprings I38 and I39 are such that the link I33 and its pin I34 arepositioned to reverse the position of the walking beam I29 each time thesolenoid I3I is energized. In the position shown in Figure XVII thespring I38 has pulled the link I33 into its upper position. The nexttime the solenoid I3I is energized the pin I34 will enter the adjacentnotch I31 and will rotate the walking beam I 29 about its pivot point toits opposite position. Such rotation will release the: tension in thespring I38 and will stretch the spring I39. Therefore, when the solenoidI3I is de-energized the link I33 will move to the other end of the slotI36 in preparation for the next stroke. A long spring I43 connectedbetween the armature I32 of the solenoid and the far end ofthe walkingbeam I29 serves to restrict the armature I32 and to provide a certainamount of over center eiiort to hold the walking beam I29 at eitherextreme of its travel.

While the cylinders II4 arerotating from one position to the other thecam surfaces I25 and I29 separate the arms I20 and I2I -to release thepressure with which the conveyor holds the wiener and to allow the pads8 to rotate it. The over center linkage between the walking beam I29 andthe solenoid I3I is required so that the pads 8 do not return the wienerto its original position as soon as the solenoid is de-energized.Inasmuch as it is immaterial in which direction the wiener is rotatedthe number of operations of the turning mechanism is cut in half byallowing it to rotate one wiener during the forward stroke and anotherwiener during the reverse stroke. The solenoid I3I is controlled by amicroswitch I44 (Figures X11 and XIV) actuated by the first set ofscoring knives 6 as they oscillate in and out during the passage of awiener. The arrangement is such that when a wiener is between the knives6 and they are separated thereby, the arm I09 is pushed away from aconveyors lpulled tight.

. A 9. ward each other under the action of the spring I61 the arm I69bends the spring I66 to operate the microswitch I66. By this time thewiener is in position between the pads 6 and the solenoid I3I acts torotateit. As the next wiener comes along and forces the scoring knives 6apart the microswitch is again opened, the solenoid deenergized and theturning mechanism is brought in readiness for the next cycle.

The wieners are not always of exactly the same diameter and whiledifferences in diameter do not aifect the incoming conveyor and thecut-ofi mechanism those diiferences will reduce the effectiveness of theremaining structure if provision is not made to adjust for them. Forthis reason the conveyor is carried on a supporting surchanged spacersI61 and is therefore readily-adjusted with respect to. the upper surfaceof the base i2. Guides I68 positioned along the sides face I66 which inturn is supported on easily of the conveyor in the spaces between thescoring knives and the cut-oil. mechanisms are also carried on spacersI69 and in addition have their mounting holes I56 slotted so as to allowlateral adjustment.

v The pulleys I5 and which are geared together. Therefore, their spacingis fixed and incapable of adjustment. To accommodate the various sizesof wieners an idler pulley I5I is provided immediately adjacent thepulley '66, the axle of the idlerpulley I6I being vertically adjustablein a slot I52 cut in an arm I53 extending from one of the stands 65. Atthe other end the conveyor belts are run over pulleys I6 and I56. Thepulley I6 carrying the end of the conveyor 5 is journaled on a stud I55extending laterally from the bottom end of a double tree lever I56 whilethe pulley I56 carrying the end of the conveyor belt 61 is Journaled ona stud I51 mounted in the other end of the lever I56. The hole in thelever I56 to accommcdate the stud I51 is elongated to provide verticaladjustment of the stud I51 and therefore the spacing between theconveyor 5 andthe conveyor belt 61. The lever I56 is carried at itscenter on a rod I56 which extends through a slotted hole 66 are carriedon shafts I1 respectively.

in a bracket I59 erected from the base I2 and which is threaded so itmay be clamped to the bracket I59. The slotted hole in the bracket I59allows the lever to be positioned with both of the After the wiener hasbeen scored by the scoring knives 6, rotated by the pads 8 and scoredby' the knives 9 it is carried on toward the suction rolls I6 and II.built up or laminated wheel formed of lamina- I tions I66 of steel andintermediate laminations I6I of plastic or some other material. Theintermediate laminations are provided with grooves I62 extendingradially from the central bore toward the periphery. The periphery ofeach of the suction rolls I6 or II is shaped to conform to a quadrant ofa wiener lying between planes parallel and perpendicular to the axis ofthe suction roll. The rolls I6 or II are carried on bush- Each of thesuction rolls is a 10 per ends. Inasmuch as the weight of thecolumns I66is oifset from and above the supporting axis it is necessary to providea, spring I61, links I 66 and a reversinglever I66 to maintain them inposition with respect to theconveyors. The rolls I6 and II are drivenfrom a shaft I16 Journaled in the sleeves I66 through spiral gears Illand I 12. The gears I12 are mounted on short or stub shafts I16 whichare iournaled in bushings I16 secured in the bottom end of the hollowcolumns I66. The upper ends of the shafts I16 are formed with a squaresocket to receive a square shaft I15 whose upper end engages a matingsocket I16 in the suction rolls I6 and II. To facilitate assemblyafterthe suction rolls have been removed for cleaning or other reasonsthe square shaft I16 is provided with a washer I11 which, while notnormally contacting the inside of the bushing I66, serves to hold theshaft approximately central so that it may be easily engaged in themating socket I16.

The shaft I16 is operatively'connected through a pair of beveled gearsI16 to a short transverse shaft I16 which is driven from the shaft H bymeans of a roller chain I66 running over sprocket wheels I6I and I82pinned on the shafts I19 and The velocity ratio of the driveis such thatthe periphery of the suction rolls I6 and I I have a velocity equal toor slightly greater than that of the conveyor 5.

Suction is applied to theinterior of the hollow columns I66 byconnecting suitable suction lines into side openings I63 of the hollowcolumns I66. Each of the bushings I66 is provided withaport- I66 on theside of the bushing facing the conveyor so that the radial grooves I62are open to the suction line while their outer ends are in contact withthe casing of a wiener. The 'suction issuificient to cause thecellophanecasing to adhere to the periphery of the rolls I6 and II andto be stripped from the wiener. As the suction rolls continue to turnthe radial grooves I62 are cut off from thesuction port I66 and sincetheir outer ends are now covered with cellophane the vacuum will bemaintained within them. About a third of a revolution later the groovesI 62 are opened to a port or channel 'I 65 cut in the outer surface ofthe bushing I63 and which through a narrow. groove I66 and a drilledhole I61 is open to the atmosphere. The vacuum being thus relieved, thecellophane falls-free from theperiphery of the, roll I6 or is scrapedoff by scrapers I 66 carried on-the ends of arms I69 extending outwardlyfrom the hollow columns I66. I It will be noticed that rather thancombining corresponding suction rolls I6 and II so that the periphery'ofeach would conform to half the periphery of a wiener they have beendivided into separate structures. By arranging them in this manner, whenthere is no wiener between them they can swing toward each other, beingurged ings I63 pressed into the upper ends of hollow columns I66extending upwardly from within the base I2 to points substantially onthe same level as the end of the conveyor 5. The hollow columns I66 areprovided with arms I65 by which they are mounted on sleeves I 66 securedin the base I2 parallel to its longitudinal axis. The columns I 66 arethus capable of oscillation about the sleeves I66 so as to change thespacing between,

the suction rolls I6 and II carried on their upin that direction by thespring I61, until their smaller peripheries are practically in contact.This is done so that, as a scored wiener approaches, the suction rollscanact on the curved 1 leading end to grasp the end, of the cellophaneand strip it from the curved end. Then as the wiener enters between therolls they move back to the position shown in Figure XXIII and operateon the sides of the wiener. If the rolls I6 and I I are combined intoone set their larger peripheries instead of overlapping interfere andprevent them from swinging toward each other andoperating on the leadingends of the wieners. If desired, the maximum inward travel of the rollsmay be to drop and cut the wiener.

11 limited by set screws I90 which are set into bosses IOI of the hollowcolumns I64 in position to contact each other Just before thecorresponding suction rolls contact each other.

It may be necessary under certain conditions to apply a moderate amountof air pressure to the opening I01 so that the air pressureactingthrough the grooves I62 will blow the cellophane free from the rollsbefore it reaches the scrapers The electrical circuits for operating thedevice are shown in the schematic wiring diagram in Figure XXIV.Electrical power for operating the various solenoids is fed in through apower line I92 and a disconnect switch I93. From one side of the lineI92 current can flow through a lead I90, the microswitch I, a lead I95,the solenoid I3! and leads I96 and I91 to the other side of the line.This circuit actuates the turning pads to rotate the wieners about theirlongitudinal axis intermediate the two sets of scoring knives 6 and 9.It operates once each time the knives come together after the passage ofa wiener. Current to operate the clutch which controls the operation ofthe incoming conveyor 2 is fed from one side of the line through thelead I94, a branch lead I98, normally closed contacts I99 of a relay200, a lead 20I, the solenoid l3 and a lead 202 which is connected tothe lead I96 and the other side of the line. In this circuit as long asthe relay 200 is not energized and power is supplied to the devicethrough the switch I93, the solenoid I3 is energized to hold the clutchin driving position. The lead I94 is also-connected .to the microswitch31 which is controlled by the fork 3 riding on the wieners. When thefork 3 drops it closes the microswitch 31, allows current to flowthrough it into a lead 203 connected to the center pole of themicroswitch 56, and through its normally closed contact 204 and a lead205 to the solenoid 38 and a lead 206 to the other side of the line.Thus in this circuit as soon as' the It is of course possible torearrange the structure in various ways and still secure the sameresult. For example, it would be entirely feasible to place the axes ofthe knives 0 at right angles to the axes of the knives 6 and therebyeliminate the; necessity of providing the turning pads 0 and theirassociated mechanism.

Also while the structure has been shown for producing four scored linesalong the sides of the wiener it is not so limited because by suitablemodification the number of lines maybe increased or decreased.

Other modifications of the mechanism are also possible without departingfrom the basic stripping method of producing potential scorin lines and,removing the casing with externally applied vacuum.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. The method of removing a casing membrane from wieners, frankfurtersand like products, comprising the steps of scoring the membrane while onthe product to weaken the membrane and subsequently applying suction tosuccessive portions of the weakened membrane to strip it from theproduct.-'

2. The method of removing casing membranes from wieners, frankfurtersand like products,

fork 3 drops between two of the wieners the microswitch 31 is closed andcurrent flows to energize the solenoid 38 which acts on the fork lever40 to lock the fork 3 in its bottom position.

The relay 200 is connected in parallel with the solenoid 38 so that it,at the same time, breaks the circuit to the clutch solenoid I3 and thusstops the conveyor 2. When the relay 200 is energized following thedropping of the fork 3 it closes its contacts 201 to allow current toflow to the knife solenoid 43 which causes the knife When the knifereaches the bottom of its travel the finger 54 actuates the microswitch50 thereby breaking the contact 204 and closingitsnormally open contact208. Current then flows from the microswitch 50 through a lead 200 tothe solenoid 51 which actuates the forked lever 40 to restore the fork 3to its upper position and incidentally open the microswitch 31. Theoperation of the microswitch 56, occasioned by the drop of the knife,releases the solenoid 38 and the relay 200 to allow the knife to returnto its upper position and to allow the relay to re-establish currentflow to the clutch solenoid I3 which in turn restarts the conveyor 2.

The structure described provides means for separating a chain of wienersby cutting each one from the succeeding ones, of producing potentialtearing lines in the cellophane casings and of subsequently applyingsuction to the cello hane to tear it alongthe scored lines and to stripit from the wieners.

comprising the steps of separating each wiener from a chain of wienersby transverse cuts which expose.the ends thereof, scoring the membraneto form potential tearing lines, and subsequently applying suction tosuccessive portions of the membrane to tear it along the potentialtearing lines and strip it from the product.

3. A device for removing the encasing membrane of wieners, frankfurters,or the like, comprising means for feeding the wieners to a cut-offknife, means for operating the knife causing it to sever each wienerfrom the adjacent one, a plurality of knives for scoring the membranealong the sides of the wiener to produce potential tearing lines, and aplurality of suction rolls adapted. to apply a suction pull to themembrane to tear the membrane along the potential tearing lines and tostrip the membrane from the wiener.

4. In a device for removing the encasing membrane of a wiener or asimilar product, in combination, means for scoring the membrane, and 0means for applying suction to the membrane between the scored lines tostrip it from the wiener.

5. In a device for removing the encasing membrane of a wiener or asimilar product, in combination, means for scoring the membrane, andmeans for applying suction to the membrane adjacent the scored lines tostrip it from the wiener.

6. In a device for removing the skin of a wiener, frankfurter, sausageor similar product, in combination, a conveyor for drawing a chain ofwieners into the device, a catch for interrupting the feeding of theconveyor with a wiener in position to be severed from the chain, arotary cutoff knife for severing the wiener by means of a cut grazingthe end of the following wiener,

a plurality of rotary knives for scoring the skin stripping the skinfrom the wiener.

'7. In a device for removing the skin of wieners.

-frankfurters, or similar products, in combination, a knife for severingthe wiener from a chain of wieners, said knife being adapted to grazethe end of the following wiener to expose the end thereof, a pluralityof knives for scoring the exterior surface of the skin to producepotential tearing lines, and means employing subatmospheric pressure forstripping the skin from the wieners.

8 In a device for removing the skin of wieners, frankfurters, or similararticles, in combination, a rotary knife mounted for reciprocation alongapath transverse to the path of the article to be skinned, a pluralityof rotary knives adapted to score the skin of the product to producepotential tearing lines, and a plurality of rolls adapted to applysuction to the skin to tear it along the scored lines and-strip it fromthe article.

9. In a device for removing the skins of wieners, frankfurters andsimilar articles, in combination, a conveyor for feeding a chain of suchconnected articles, into the device, means for stopping the conveyor aseach article of the chain arrives at a fixed point, a rotary cutoflknife for separating each article in turn from the remainder of thechain, a second conveyor for advancing the severed articles, a pluralityof guards mounted adjacent saidsecond conveyor, a plurality of knivesprotruding through said guards, said guards and said knives beingresiliently mounted to guide the articlestherebetween and to score theskins of the articles to produce potential tearing lines, and means forapplying suction to said'skins to tear them along the scored lines andto strip them from the article.

10. In a device for removing the skins of wieners or similar articlesinto the device, means for severing each wiener from the chain, aplurality of guards defining narrow slits disposed along the path of thesevered wieners, a plurality of rotary knives adapted to protrudeslightly from the slits in said guards so as to score the skin of awiener passing between said guards, and means for tearing the skin alongthe scored lines and stripping it from the wiener.

11. In a device for removing the skins of wieners, frankfurters orsimilar articles, in combination, means for separating the individualarticles of a chain of such articles,means for scoring the skin of thearticle substantially parallel to its longitudinal axis, and a pluralityof rollers connected to a source of vacuum adapted to en-, gage thearticle and by applying suction thereto to remove the skin thereof.

12. In a device for removing the skins of wieners, frankfurters orsimilar articles. in combination, means for separating the individualarticles of a chain of such articles, means for scoring the skin of thearticle substantially parallel 14 to its longitudinal axis, and aplurality of rolls connected to a source of vacuum each adapted toengage a portion of the periphery of the article that lies between thescores in the skin of the article.

13. In a device for removing the skin from a wiener or similar productby scoring the skin,

and drawing it ofl by applying suction thereto, a scoring knife andguard assembly, said knife comprising a circular disk or substantialthickness having a beveled periphery, said guard comprising an upper andlower member each fitted with bearing surfaces one of which contactssaid beveled periphery, resilient means urging said knife into eccentricrelation with respect to said guard, and means for adjusting the spacingbetween said .guard members to vary the contact between the beveledknife edge and the cooperating bearing surface to control theeccentricity of said knife in said guard.

14. In a device for removing the skin from a wiener or similar productby scoring the skin and drawing it oil? by applying suction thereto, acircular knife and guard assembly for scoring the skin, said guardcomprising substantially cylindrical upper and lower housings that areheld in spaced aligned position-with a slot therebetween, said knifebeing positioned between and eccentric to said housings such that aportion of said knife protrudes through the slot, and means into awiener-contacting surface that conforms' to the adjacent portion of awiener, a resiliently mounted hollow axle for said roll, means forreducing the air pressure in said axle, a port for connecting saidradial passages to the interior of said axle, and means for feedingscored wieners to said roll.

no! a nnrrmcxson.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 817.271 Perks Apr. 10, 19061,506,510 Thuau Aug. 26, 1924- 2,098,221 Atkinson Oct. 19, 19372,340,755 Jacobson Feb. 1, 1944 2,369,880

a Martin I"eb. 13,199

